NANCHANG, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 9th Tour of Poyang Lake cycling race kicked off on Wednesday in Hengfeng County, in east China's Jiangxi Province. Holler Nikodemus, a cyclist racing for Germany's Bike Aid, won the first stage of the race.

On the first race day, 132 cyclists from 22 teams competed along a 105.1-kilometer route. Nikodemus won by clocking a time of 2:43:15. Second place went to Ockeloen Jasper Christiaan from Holland's Monkey Town Continental Team. Pavlic Marko from Serbia's Team CCN Metalac took third place.

The 9th Tour of Poyang Lake cycling race lasts from September 12 to 23 with a total route of 1,178 kilometers and 11 stops in the 12-day race that offers a total prize of 250,000 U.S. dollars.